コロナの間に変わったユキヒメドリのくちばし

The beak of the snowy petrel has changed during the coronavirus

The beak of the snowy petrel has changed during the coronavirus
アメリカのカリフォルニア大学ロサンゼルス校(UCLA)のキャンパスにいるユキヒメドリという鳥は、コロナの時にくちばしの長さが変わりました

A bird called the snowy petrel on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States changed its beak length during the coronavirus pandemic.

A bird called the snowy petrel on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States changed its beak length during the coronavirus pandemic.
ユキヒメドリはもともと山に住んでいる鳥ですが、最近は町の中にも住んでいます

The snowy petrel is originally a bird that lives in the mountains, but recently it has also been living in towns.

The snowy petrel is originally a bird that lives in the mountains, but recently it has also been living in towns.
山にいるユキヒメドリは、長いくちばしを持っています

The snowy petrel that lives in the mountains has a long beak.

The snowy petrel that lives in the mountains has a long beak.
これは、種や虫を食べるために便利です

It is useful for eating seeds and insects

It is useful for eating seeds and insects
でも、町にいるユキヒメドリは、短いくちばしをしています

But the snowflies in town have short beaks.

But the snowflies in town have short beaks.
これは、人間の食べ物の残りなど、いろいろなものを食べるためです

This is because they eat a variety of things, including the remains of human food

This is because they eat a variety of things, including the remains of human food
研究チームが調べたところ、コロナで大学が閉まっていた2021年と2022年に生まれたユキヒメドリは、山の鳥と同じように長いくちばしを持っていました

The research team found that snow petrels born in 2021 and 2022, when universities were closed due to the coronavirus, had long beaks like mountain birds.

The research team found that snow petrels born in 2021 and 2022, when universities were closed due to the coronavirus, had long beaks like mountain birds.
でも、コロナが終わって学生が戻ってくると、またくちばしが短くなりました

But when the coronavirus pandemic ended and students returned, their beaks became shorter again.

But when the coronavirus pandemic ended and students returned, their beaks became shorter again.
これは、鳥がすぐに環境に合わせて変わることができるからです

This is because birds can quickly change to suit their environment

This is because birds can quickly change to suit their environment
研究者は、「私たちの周りで、早く進化が起きていることに気がつかないことが多い」と言っています

Researchers say, ``We often don't realize that evolution is happening quickly around us.''

Researchers say, ``We often don't realize that evolution is happening quickly around us.''